GoPro

Planning what gear to take can be fun. I like to groove on a little online shopping for camping gear and such. My latest toy is the GoPro Camera. It has many accessories available so you can attach it to almost anything. A small tab attached to your helmet will allow the camera to click on. That’s my next step. Helmet cam! The following clip had the camera attached to a suction cup on my gas tank.

 

I’ve only used the camera this one time so I can’t give it a qualified review yet. I think you can expect to see the results of it’s continued use throughout this summer.

Summer Plans

I’m planning the next big trip. It looks like a good one, but may need some trimming. I’d like to keep it to a six week tour with a little room for flexibility. The present plan may go a bit beyond the walls of flexibility.

This is what the plan looks like. Rotating counter clock wise from New York, NY. A little abstract I know, but if you know the country you can figure it out.

April Adventure

OH BOY! ROAD TRIP! HEADING DOWN TO NC TO VISIT THE DRAGON!

Click on the map to enlarge. The numbers represent where we stopped for the night.

On this adventure I am joined by my brother.  

The plan is to get deep into PA before calling it a day.

Our dad was in town when we split. He took some nice shots of our departure.

So we were off! 

We took Route 78 across NJ and PA.

Kep (bro) forgot to bring a sleeping bag so we had to stop on the way at a crazy store for the outdoorsman. Welcome to Cabela’s.  It’s truly an amazing store if you like outdoorsman or sportsman activities. He got a nice sleeping bag and I got one of those headlamp head bands. I should have gotten one of the a long time ago.

We rode well into the evening. Unfortunately night fell and we missed a turn, so the coffee shop shaped like a coffee pot will have to be a site for another day.

Our first night on the road we stayed in a hotel. 

The next day we rode through Pittsburgh.

This shot is taken from across the river by an old incline rail line.

We rolled into town to see an old prison then we hit the road.

As we were leaving Pittsburgh I saw a horrible sight. A beautiful large hawk was taking off from the side of the road and was clipped by the car in front of us. It was like  watching a slow motion movie as the hawk struggled for flight and spiraled down to the highway next to me. Very unsettling. Let’s eat!

Say hello to the “Big J” at Janoski’s.. All of this cost less then a Egg McMuffin meal from McDonalds. Damn good too.

We rode to Columbus Ohio. We wanted to see the Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Not on Easter Day fellas! So from my original plan, we ended up not seeing the coffe shop shaped like a coffe pot, George Washington’s headquarters from the Whiskey Rebellion, and the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. After that we didn’t see Hopewell Indian site and Serpant Mound. I am fairly certain the Smokey Mountains will still be there when we arrive.

In the Southern Ohio town of Portsmouth we stopped to see these murals. We were told about them by a local woman working at a rest stop. 

The murals depict the history of Portsmouth and Ohio.

Here’s is a painted cat sniffing Kep’s finger.

A real dog checking out the painted sunset.

This particular section represents the oldest motorcycle club in Ohio which still exists right down the street.

Here is the Club.

Also in Portsmouth was something I read about on the internet. If I know my route, I like to research the journey to see if there is anything of interest along the way. While investigating this trip I came across the site of an Old Jail in Portsmouth, OH. I was speaking to one of the locals who lived down the street and he told me that this was no jail. It was the Old Mule Stable for the brewery. And the big pile of bricks in the lot next door was the ice house for the brewery (it blew down in February). He said in the winter they would cut giant blocks of ice right out of the Ohio River and the mules would drag them up to the ice house. 

After some lunch in Ohio we crossed over to Kentucky and found a place to camp at Blue Licks Battleground State Park.

It’s always nice to make new friends on the road. This guy stopped by to play fetch for a while. Really, we played fetch.

On the way South the next day we stopped by this cool old house in Richmond, KY.

Inside we talked to the lady who works at a tourism office. It was the first time I actually heard someone use the term “Old Timey” (A term I had only knew from the movie “Oh Brother Where Art Thou”, “These boys is not white! These boys is not white! Hell, they ain’t even old timey!“, Homer Stokes). 

They had some old artifacts and furninture including one of only seven unforms still in existance from the Revolutionary War.

While in Kentucky I tried to hit the Colonel up for the secret recipe, but he wasn’t talking

From there we  camped at the Cumberland Gap.

 We got some Poterhouse steaks, some beer and had a good night around the campfire. That night it rained A LOT! Here is Kep’s tent in the morning.

We then rode down to the Smokey Mountains where we are now. I am sitting in a coffee shop just outside the park in a town called Townsend, TN. 

Tail of the Dragon

The Tail of the Dragon is part of Route 129 in Tennessee and ends in Deals Gap NC. This part of the road has 318 turns in only 11 miles. It’s a bikers dream come true. It’s a test of fortitude and skill. A place to push it to the limit, and we did! I was whipping around turns at such speeds and leaning the bike so far that my foot pegs scraped the ground! That’s a thrill! Freaked me out!

Click Here for an aerial view of The Tail of the Dragon.

This is a gathering spot along the Dragon.

Here is me rounding one of 318 curves in 11 miles.

Kep, whipping the turn in good form.

The Brothers.

He we are having conquered the Dragon. What a thrill!

The Tree of Shame

And there are those who did not fare so well.

While standing next to this sign, a guy asked if I would take his picture with his iPhone. We started talking and he asked me if I was with this group of guys on these speed bikes. I said No, that’s my Triumph over there. He gives me a look and says, “You’re the school teacher!” WHAT? He said, “I just read your blog last last week.” CRAZY! He even added, “Sorry you went down at 10,000.” I was blown away! What are the odds?

And here he is. Meet Terry, about to test his skills on the Dragon. I guess he fared well. I did not see any parts of his bike in the Tree of Shame the following day. Thanks Terry! Enjoy that Triumph!

This photo was on the wall at Deals Gap.

Time to say goodbye to the Smokies and head off to see family in South Carolina.

On the way we rode the Dragon again.

This is Papa Smurf. He is a Dragon regular.

Here is Kep coming through a tunnel. I’m the Quick Draw McGraw of the pocket cameras.

Bridal Veil Falls, Route 28, North Carolina. I like this whole area. The roads are great for riding.

We headed down to South Carolina to visit our Aunt and Nana. They moved to SC from New Orleans after Katrina. They have a nice house overlooking the valley and mountains. 

And here she is. The matriarch of our family. Nana with the boys.

And here’s the rest of the gang. It was great to see everyone. Thanks Y’all!

My bro in a barrel.

Jack be nimble, Jack be quick. Having fun at the campsite in Sparta, NC.

One last contemplative look at the road behind us. Just after this we encountered a momma Black Bear and her three cubs. You can see them at the end of the video.

One Year and 15,000 miles

It’s my bike’s birthday. I picked her up from the showroom on April 5, 2008. I’ve been riding my Bonneville for one year. Today while riding around upstate the odometer hit 15,000 miles.

I rode up to Woodbury Common Outlet Center. I had never been there. The place is huge! I was hoping they had some kind of camping outlet. The next best thing was a North Face outlet. I got a nice down sleeping bag. It rolls up small, good for travel.

Next I met up with my brother in Sloatsburg, NY.

We road over to a place called Ringwood Manor.

There is plenty to experience at Ringwood Manor. A fine place to explore. 

This place has been around since 1762. It was the home of George Washington’s geographer. The home was used as a strategic headquarters during the Revolutionary War.

In the area surrounding the manor there are numerous trails dating back to the 18th century. Unfortunately we arrived late in the day. An adventure for another day.

So Close to Spring

If you are a rider living in the North Eastern part of the States your feeling it! It’s almost time. A time when you know you can ride everyday without dropping your core body temperature to dangerous levels. Personally I have no electrical gear to heat myself up during the cold winter months. That didn’t always stop me. A few of those times, I should not have been riding. I froze. It was dangerous to let myself be exposed to those below freezing temperatures. When you are that cold you are not thinking clearly and therefor, you are not riding with the necessary focus. You can’t help but be distracted by the changes in your body. And it can take hours to feel even close to normal again once you make it home.
So the Spring weather brings welcome relief.
I went for a short ride this Sunday. I had to get out of the city. I did a nice loop around the Bear Mountain area. See the map below.

I went North from NYC up the Palisades Pkwy to Route 59 toward Suffern. I then went North on 17 to 17A. 17A is a nice road for riding. It winds through the mountains and has some surprisingly tough turns. At least I didn’t expect to have to lean into it as hard as I did at one point. There are red stars on the map depicting the location of the following photos. The first is a small waterfall off of 17A.

17A brings you to Warwick, NY. Warwick is a quaint old town where I photographed this church. It’s the kind of town where kids wave at you as you ride by. Very Norman Rockwell. Nice.

I then yielded onto 94N. This is a smaller road where I came across this old mill.

It’s a great old crooked building. I spoke to the people residing in the adjacent house across the creek. They said the foundation of the house is original, built in 1790 and the house was rebuild after a fire in the 1800’s. The mill itself is called the Randelville Mill. The National Register of Historic Places plaque on the door read: Remaining portion of the Randellville Mill. Saw-grist mill, Piano-Forte factory on Quaker Creek c. 1740-1900
I would have explored the area more, but I could smell the rains coming. So I connected with Route 6, wrapped around Bear Mountain, and headed back to the city. Good thing I did, the rain did come.

AMA

Check out the January home page for the American Motorcyclist Association!

http://www.ama-cycle.org/

OH YEAH!!!

I’m on page 6 of their magazine, American Motorcyclist as well. Fun!

Click Here for the .pdf from that part of the magazine

Coast to Coast

In April 2008 I got a motorcycle license and bought my first bike, a 2007 865cc Triumph Bonneville. I was hooked. I love to ride. The bike only had 6 miles on the odometer when I got it. 4 1/2 months later it reads over 12,000 miles.

The following is the account of my journey across the United States from New York City to the West Coast and back again. This is the blog I kept as I rolled along. It has been placed here in chronological order. The words have been kept as they were. I have added links to many of those words for further inquiry. More photos have been added as well. If you click on any link or photo they will open on a separate page. Hope you enjoy the ride.

Cross Country 2008

Nygumbo presents a one man army across the nation!

It’s time to go. July 7, 2008. Happy Birthday C.C. and Ro!

Let’s hope 7 is my lucky number too!

Time to go!

CHARGE!

The Projected Route West

On My Way in PA!

I left New York City on Monday afternoon. Got a late start. Victor saw me off. Victor is my drunk ex-super who took this picture. You can see his tall boy in the bag behind my bike. He was ripped.

Rain Day 1: I was one of those guys you see sitting under the overpass.

I can’t believe I thought about leaving my full helmet at home. With the half helmet in a heavy rain, it feels as though every kid I taught for the last 15 years was standing on the side of the road pelting me in the face with rocks.

I got to Cherry Springs State Park to camp for the night. A group of people were renovating this old cabin for an Eagle Scout project.

I was only one of two people camping at this site.

Cherry Springs is supposed to be the darkest place on the East Coast. They have these observatories that you can rent out. Unfortunately, it was a cloudy night, so the celestial heavens were closed for the evening.

I had to ride around a little with no helmet. It felt good!

Major Laptop Problems!

I’m OK, but the laptop is messed up! The screen went dark! I can barely make out what’s going on if I look at the screen in bright light. I am just outside Chicago right now. I think I am going to skip it. Screw cities. Already I am bumping into that city attitude. I’ll get enough of that when I get back to NYC. This laptop is difficult to work, but I’ll give it my best. I am at some buffalo wing place in Michigan City, Indiana sitting by a window in order to see the screen just barely. Photos will be even more difficult, but here we go.

Pennsylvania to Indiana

After visiting the darkest overcast place on the east coast I saw this old bus someone coverted into a residence.

I was just about to cross the border into Ohio when I noticed a bunch of bikes and hot rods in the parking lot of a restaurant. The Quaker Steak & Lube. Naturally I checked it out.

While there I got some advice from a giant tatooed biker. He kind of looked like that long haired guy from the Oak Ridge Boys. He told me to watch out for the antelope. An antelope took a friend of his out at Sturgis last year.

I dunked this chick on my second throw.

There’s more, but I’ve got to hit the road.
Later.

South Dakota!

Greetings from South Dakota! I was planning on getting further into the state, but the sun was beaming in my face and I had already rode a few hundred miles. I saw a sign for a Super 8 Motel with internet so I decided to call it a day. I’ll try and get some photos up before nights end. I want to thank those of you who have left comments. It’s nice to hear from everybody.

Back it Up!

OK I’m in South Dakota. But that’s a big jump from Michigan City! So let’s back it up a little.

Now I am at a motel computer and I can see my photos.

So it’s back to the biker gathering in Erie, PA. Remember, you can click a photo to see it larger.

And just before Erie I visited an old sawmill in Galeton, PA.

Enough of PA. I went on to Ohio. I camped out at a site just off the first exit into the state. The next morning I continued west into Cleveland. I stopped for a few photos and moved on.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Blue Angels were my favorite as a kid. I believe this is the Phantom 2 fighter jet.

Holy Toledo! Toledo Ohio that is, I got lost a bit. I didn’t have a plan for this route. I was riding along the Maumee river then missed a turn. I stopped at a little Ice Cream place and had a chocolate shake. A nice girl that worked there helped me focus back on my path. I crossed the river again and rode along Route 24 to Route 6. This is a place called Roche de Boeuf.

Then it was west into Indiana where I camped at Chain O’Lakes State Park. Nice site. Friendly people. Passed a town called Albion on the way. That’s the name of one of my favorite Babyshambles tracks.

Then it was on to Michigan City. I spoke of that in an earlier Post.

So, Chicago was out of the question. I turned south when I saw this huge storm headed toward me. I stopped to put on my rain gear. As soon as I put the last piece on and place my full face helmet on my head, BOOM! The storm wailed. It was a heavy rain with gale force winds and lightning. I crouched behind a road sign and waited it out. Just before the storm I was taking this picture. I should have taken a photo in the opposite direction as well. The contrast of the storm to this sky was amazing. Like Yin and Yang.

The rain suit is amazing. I wish I had gotten Rain gloves. I’d have been completely dry. Riding in the rain isn’t all that bad with the right equiptment. It’s kind of fun!

I got a little lost again after heading west. Once I found my way I shot across Illinois to another State Park called Johnson Sauk Trail S.P.

That night I did take the time to write a bit.

“Doing well. Not everything has gone as expected, but as I sit here at the campsite in Johnson Sauk State Park Outside of Annawan, Illinois, I am feeling good. I have a fire going compliments of my neighboring campers who gave me some wood. I have Charlie Daniels playing on my iPod and there’s a cool breeze blowing through the pines keeping the fire ablaze. As I sit here I realize my feet are damp. I haven’t had time to notice. A small but hugely powerful storm blew by today. I had just left Michigan City, Indiana after deciding against going to Chicago. I had stopped for gas and just sensed the feel of the city. It was hostile. I was out here to put the the attitude of the city behind me. Everywhere else I had been (betwwen NYC and Michigan city) I had encountered nothing but warm, friendly people. In Michigan City it was back to the fast pace and the sharp tongue. I turned the bike around and headed south. As I write there are 3 June bugs bouncing around me. One is actually resting on my finger as I write. I don’t know if it’s the light or they are trying to tell me they’re upset about their cousin dying as he bounced off my forehead going 80MPH on the way here today.”

The next morning.

Some wild turkeys strolled by.

An old round meeting house in the park.

Now it was across the Mississippi River and into Iowa.

I rode north up the Mississppi to Effigy National Monument.

It’s a grass bear made by indians thousands of years ago.

Views from the cliffs above the Mississppi.

That night I camped at Beaver Creek Valley State Park, Minnesota. The ranger warned me that upon entering the campsite I would have to cross a running stream with lots of slippery algae. He said many a motorcycle has taken a fall there. In fact one went down today. It was almost dark. I had no choice. He said to follow the car tire path where there would be less algae. I did. Just as I had almost traversed the stream I felt the slip but I did’nt go down. While setting up camp I met the man that did go down. Rick and his daughter Renee (correct me if I’m wrong) stopped by to say hi. Very nice people. They invited me for S’mores. Mmmmmmmmmmmm. But I had to set up camp and eat first. I walked down to their site, but I was too late for s’mores. They had gone to bed.

Much to my surprise, when I woke up the next morning, a ziplock bag was on the seat of my bike with graham crackers, marshmellows, and Hershey’s. Thanks again for that! I saw them again before heading out today. Rick recommended some good routes and sites in South Dakota and Montana. He is a Lewis and Clarke head too. He told me where I could see a place where Meriwether Lewis carved his name. It’s just northeast of Yellowstone.

Headed west on Route 16 I saw this. It’s the old version of that machine I saw before the big storm. Pretty cool, huh?

Then I drove like a madman to South Dakota. I was doing between 75 and 90 all the way to Sioux Falls. When I was approaching I noticed a hotel sign which said High Speed Internet. I decided it was time to get back to the blog and sleep in a bed. It’s nearly 2:30am now, so I’m glad I’ll have a bed to sleep in. I was going to get to blogging right when I arrived, but I figured I’d take all the bags off my bike and ride into town and get a bite to eat. Most everything is closed on Sunday. I found some Chinese food and then stumbled upon Falls Park. What do you know? Sioux Falls is named after Sioux Falls. It’s really a nice site.

At night they had a lazer show with a history of the Dakotas and Sioux Falls so I stuck around. I didn’t get back to the motel until almost 11:00.

Tomorrow it’s off to the Badlands!

Ohio to South Dakota (video)

Videos

So I am still having problems with video and photos. But here is a quick update. I spent the night in the Badlands. It’s beautiful. At night I went to a bar on an indian reservation. Had a blast. I met some guys from Oregon at the campsite and they drove to the bar. Good thing because we befriended the bartender and were out until sunrise. There is no way I could have ridden the bike. I may have deleted the photos from that night by mistake. Sorry Ely and Reid. No puking parking lot shot for you guys. Now I am staying a couple night in Keystone. It’s a small town just under Mt. Rushmore. I checked into a hotel to rest a bit. Pool, Hot tub, and a bed! Very nice. Very necessary. You can see Mt. Rushmore from the hotel. So today I will just ride around the Black Mountain hills of Dakota and enjoy the day. Hopefully I’ll have some photos for you later tonight.

Seem to be having problems with the videos. I’ll keep trying.
See ya soon!
Actually, Let’s try this.

Black Hills

First of all, can anyone see the videos? I can’t anywhere I’ve stopped.

Still no pics for now. I’ll try to stop at a library or something and upload along the way. Yesterday was fantastic. I went to Mt. Rushmore, The Crazy Horse monument, and Custer State Park. Only saw one buffalo though. Today I head west again. I’ll be going to Devil’s Tower and the site of the Battle of Little Big Horn. I am also going to see a tree that Meriwether Lewis carved his name in. Yellowstone is far. Don’t know if I’ll make it there before dark. I don’t want to push it anymore. As my friend Thierry reminded me: It is vacation! I can’t wait to share videos and photos. Later y’all!

Oh! Kep, there is a BMW meet in Gillete, Wyoming this weekend. BMW’s all over these lands. That, and Harleys. I still have not seen a Triumph since I left NYC. I don’t know if I’ll get to Gilette. If I do I’ll be sure to rub it in. Sorry bro. I really wish you could be here with me.

And lastly, happy anniversary dad. Big 25!

I found an Internet Cafe!

Hello Nygumbo fans. I’m back! I am going to post a bunch of pictures then add text if there is time. Here we go!

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

The falls that the town was named after.

It said 104 when I hit the button. It dropped to 102 before the shutter clicked.

The Corn Palace, Mitchell, SD

Then it was off to the Badlands!

I found a bar on the indian reservation. The woman to the right is from the Sioux Nation. She told me she could tell I had a good spirit from the moment I walked in the door. The Sioux are so perceptive.

This is the bartender who was feeding us drinks until sunrise!

This is the result of that experience. Say hello to Reid from Oregon.

OK, back to the badlands!

A Badland Goat.

Takin’ Care of Business in a Flash!

A last shot with the Badlands.

I flew across South Dakota and shacked up at a motel in Keystone for the next two nights. I needed rest and relaxation.

Here is an old train from the 1800’s

Chillin’ in Keystone at the Ruby House.

I checked out this guy sculpting with a chainsaw. I gotta try that.

Keystone is the town just below Mount Rushmore.

Today is Jimmy’s Birthday. Happy Birthday Jimmy!

Nearby is the Crazy Horse Monument. It is being worked on by one family and is far from finished. The project is being worked on by the children and grandchildren of the man who began the project.

I went to Custer State Park and only saw one buffalo.

I went back to Mount Rushmore at night. I figured out how to park for free. Otherwise it’s 10 bucks.

Profile

I was so disappointed at having only seen one buffalo. So I went back to Custer State Park. The tatanka did not let me down!

People thought I was nuts walking amongst the buffalo, but I couldn’t help myself!

I stopped by Deadwood on the way to Devil’s Tower. I met Wild Bill.

I stayed at the campsite under Devil’s Tower. A storm blew in. I hung out with a guy named Tim from upstate NY. We drank beer and watched the lightning.

The next day I was inspired to ride like the devil all the way to Yellowstone. The winds were incredible. I had to ride at a 20 degree angle just to keep from blowing into oncoming traffic. In the Rockies I played in the snow. I have a video of my sliding down this snowbank but can’t upload it right now.

Beyond the train yard you can see the dust blowing. It was brutal.

I finally made it to Yellowstone! Old Faithful.

Yellowstone is beautiful.

A mule deer.

And more buffalo!

A bald eagle

An Eagles Nest

Cooking steak on the campfire!

Well folks, that does it for now. There is so much more to say. I just don’t have the time. It gets really cold here at night and I am at least an hour from the campsite. The sun will be setting soon and I gotta get back and start a fire.

Thanks to all of you who have left comments! It’s nice to hear from you.

Yellowstone National Park

Hey There! I am in a library here in Butte, Montana. Didn’t expect to be here but a storm blew out the electricity at the gas station I intended on fueling up at. In Montana gas can be far and few between. So I ended up in Butte after going 163 miles on a tank of gas. I had to kick in to reserve at 140 miles. Thats a record for me!

Let me go back to Yellowstone before I move on.

I hit the 5000 mile mark!

This is called the Dragon’s Breath Spring. It sounds like it’s breathing.

Yellowstone Falls.

There are lots of fly fishermen throughout the park.

OK Brancusi. Here is a bird in flight!

Smimming to Mama!

That night I stayed up and sat around the fire with a fun family from the “rural Suburbs” of Chicago. The next morning another family pulled up with an owl stuck in their grill.

Let me add that the internet cafe I found was in West Yellowstone. Cammy who runs a travel business out of the same location was real kind and gave me a great deal on the internet time. Cammy, I can’t find your business card. So leave a comment and I can add the # of your business. Thanks again. After Yellowstone I crossed the Continental Divide and went south to The Grand Tetons.

The Tetons.

After leaving the Tetons I continued into Jackson Hole. There waqs a storm ahead so I stopped to gear up. While along side the road I heard “Hey look!” It was an older gentleman pointing out my bike to his friend. His friend told me he useed to hold the speed record in a 1954 Triumph Tiger. I said “That’s what Brando rode in The Wild One. He said yes. He used to love beating the pants off the Harleys. Then I rode into the mountains of Idaho. The rains were coming down heavy when a big mama moose and her baby jumped out in front of me. Unfortunately I couldn’t get my camera out. It was packed up because of the rain.

I headed North from there and caught this shot. Kind of erie. A big cross shape behind my shadow and a rainbow ahead.

I stayed the night at a motel in a town called Lima. Had a nice talk about the area with the hotel hostess. And more good conversation with Dorinda and the people at a cafe. They told me I can find crystals in the mountains. That’s where I am headed today.

Lima.

Then it was off to Bannack. A Ghost Town in Montana!

An old stage coach shed.

More Bannack!

I had to take shelter as a couple storms passed through.

An Old Masonic Lodge

There’s an hour time limit here at the library. I better go dig for crystals.

Later!

Gotta Love the Local Libraries

Hello! Libraries have computers with online access! I am in Polson, Montana on my way to Glacier National Park. I just posted yesterday but had to run out without checking things. I will try to post a video as well. They will be unedited, but fun none the less. I will tell you about the crystal digging in my next post.

Here is a Scary Moment

Once he passes you can move on. I have no editing software to crop.
I was really afraid this sucker was going to knock me over.
They are huge!!!

Found a Computer at a Cafe Outside Glacier. Yahoo!

So I traded the Triumph in for this classic!

Here I am digging for crystals! I found a bunch. It reminded me of digging in Dirk’s sandbox as a kid. Unfortunately I keep forgetting to photograph my booty! I am sure you would all like to see my booty.

Having been conceived across the street from a Budweiser brewery I have a special place in my heart for these guys.

The Budweiser Clydesdales. Fantastic animals.

Having fun in front of the campfire.

Glacier National Park

This is underneath one of the snow drifts carved out by the melting waters beneath.

Some Bighorn Sheep. WOW!

A tunnel under the road.

It’s just awesome riding on these roads with 3000 foot drops beside you. Glacier is beautiful.

Here’s a mountain goat.

And a little baby.

It was tough to say goodbye to Glacier. But I gotta move West. I should be in Washington tonight.

Last night I went to a local joint called Packer’s Roost. I drank the local beer called Moose Drool and ordered the Packer’s burger. Big Nick’s can’t compare! There was a great band playing. Good mountain music. Banjo, Mandolin, Guitar, and drums. Serious jamming!

Packer’s Roost. While there I was talking to Rex. He used to ride bulls, now he chops wood to make ends meet. He told me after fuel and beer money he makes about $3 an hour. I said that’s hard work for $3 an hour. He said “You gotta do what it takes.” How true. I told Rex about the Moose in the road. He grinned with his toothless smile and declared, ” You don’t have to stop for moose, they’re so big you just ride under ’em!”

OK Nygumbo Fans. Time to travel. Next time I’ll try to post some of the videos riding the twisty roads in the Glaciers. It’s nuts! See ya!

Riding in Glacier (video)

I Made it to Washington

As I’ve said, I can hardly see these vids, but I think this gives a good idea of the experience.

But first…..My Booty!

It’s hard to believe that you can just dig these suckers up, but it’s true. Then you want more. I felt like Bogart in the ‘Treasure of the Sierra Madre.’ I think I would kill for gold!

Also, I want to thank the kind folks at The Commissary at Gresko’s. That is where I used the computer yesterday. When I was done they gave me a big Toll House Cookie. It was good! People have been very kind to me on this trip. Lagniappes everywhere I go!

It took a lot longer to get through the rest of Montana and Idaho than expected, but I was determined to get to Washington. When I turned on to Route 20 it became desolate and mountainous. The sun was dropping quickly as was the temperature. I decided not to camp. I figured I could shack up at the nearest town, Ione. It turned out to be a bust. I had to go another 37 miles. I thought it was beginning to rain but it was the bugs plastering my face shield with guts. I had to stop a few times to wipe them off just so I could see all the deer that continuously jumped in the road. OK, only 4 jumped in the road, but I saw plenty more on the sides. Then there were these signs.

Needless to say it was not the most pleasurable ride. But I made it to Colville, WA and found a motel. Then I went to a bar and had a burger and a couple of beers. I was talking to some of the locals about their nightmare border crossing stories. I think i may scrap Vancouver. My bag is packed tight. I don’t need those border assholes tearing everything up. I’ve experienced it before. It’s not pleasant. I’m thinking of doing a Canada trip next year and up into Alaska. We’ll see.

I’m Back Online

OK. Let’s bring everybody up to date. I had made it to the state of Washington when we last met. After that grueling ride I stayed in a motel. When I woke up the next morning this little guy was hanging out just above my door.

Then it was across Route 2 and through the Northern Cascades. I was high in the clouds.

It was cold and rainy for much of the ride at almost 8000 feet high. A strange and wicked environment.

An old farm

I came across a herd of elk.

I rode until dark again and stayed at the last town before having to catch a ferry to cross to Washington’s Northern peninsula.

The next day I crossed on the ferry.

I completed the last of my western travel as the Route 101 turned south without seeing the ocean yet. I rode into Olympic National Park to the Hoh Rain Forest where I saw Bambi.

Then I entered the forest and found a new home.

There were 26 miles of paths through this amazing lush forest.

And finally just before dark I saw it. The Pacific Ocean with giant trees all along the beach which drifted and bleached in the sun.

I pitched my tent at a campsite between the rain forest and the ocean. Then I was introduced to the reason they call it the rain forest. It rained all night. Then all the next day. I decided to pack it up and head south. It was ugly. I rode all day in the cold rain. Then I came upon the Columbia River which was the end of the line for Lewis & Clark before turning back east. The rain was horizontal and I had to cross a 4 1/2 mile bridge to get to Oregon on the other side. With the gusts of wind, rain, and fog it was the most frightening part of my journey to date.

Oregon

What can I say about Oregon. Nothing good. It is my least favorite place I’ve encountered on this journey. I really thought I was going to be impressed. NOT! There was some nice scenery but pretty lame other than that. As I was at the northern tip I asked a guy if there was anything cool I should check out on my way south. He said there is a cheese factory in Tilamook and a Ripley’s Believe it or Not museum in Newport. Thanks Huckleberry, not what I had in mind. Also the roads in Oregon were awful. An erratic textured patchwork of bumps and grooves. Two people nearly drove into me and there were loads of crappy beach towns with neo-conformist former hippies. But as I said I did find some nice scenery.

Later to you Oregon.

Then….

California

California has everything Oregon had on it’s coast and more. Then there is the redwoods. .magnificent and huge.

And I got to ride through one of those badboys!

After that I rode well into the night to see my cousin in Berkeley where I am now.

After Berkeley It’s Time to Move East

Hello everybody. After leaving Berkeley I headed toward Yosemite.

I was still pretty upset about my cousin asking me to stay at a hotel in Berkeley when I visited. Yes, the same cousin who my family gave a home to for years. But a good dip in a waterfall cooled me off.

The bike is filthy but it’s been running like a dream.

After Yosemite the terrain became hot and dry. Apparently it hasn’t rained in these parts for quite some time. I stopped at this old foundation of a home.

I went south to Sequoia National Park. Man these trees are awesome!

Campfires were necessary for warmth earlier in the trip. Now I make ’em just because fire is cool!

A little morning desert meditation.

If you look at the center of the photo you will see a jet that used me for target practice as I was going down the road. I mentioned this to a park ranger in Death Valley and said, “Yeah, they do that.”

Death Valley. That’s 117 degrees in the shade!!!

Death Valley is an interesting place, but there is a reason I was the only bike there. The heat was brutal.

An old steam engine.

An old wagon train used for hauling Borax.

As the sun set I headed toward Vegas.

Then I checked into a cheap motel where I stayed when Linda and I crossed the country 5 years ago. Can’t beat 38 bucks a night.

That’s it for now. Again time is up at the library.

Greetings From Bluff, Utah

I camped out last night in Bluff City. It’s a small town founded by Mormons in 1880.

But let’s get back to Vegas first.

I had a great meal and a couple mojitos next to a canal in Venice.

The ceilings are painted like the sky. It feels as though the clouds are moving.

I went to downtown Vegas and saw that crazy light show. I’ll post video of it when I get home. So stay tuned nygumbo fans. But they also display a lot of the old Vegas neon signs.

I must admit, being in Vegas made me a little home sick. It was time to get back to nature where I could be one with mother earth! As I stood along side Route 66 I looked at a hell of a storm ahead in the direction of the Grand Canyon. I actually thought of skipping the canyon to avoid the storm. What a mistake that would have been. Though I have been there before, the Grand Canyon is always breathtaking.

I was afraid I wouldn’t get a campsite. When I tried to make a reservation I was told they were booked. But, because of the rain many people canceled. Lucky me. Not only that, but the rain stopped and I woke up to a sunny sky. Reason to jump for joy!

Here is an interesting road crossing sign.

What a place.

I knew I wanted to head toward Mesa Verde. I was side tracked when I saw nature’s skyscrapers. Huge rock formations were to my left so I changed direction. I then had an Easy Rider moment. Fortunately it wasn’t rednecks with shotguns, but Navajo indians in a pick up truck pelting rocks is no picnic. I was tagged in the shoulder with a boulder! Today I am forming a posse to hunt them down. Even if we don’t get them…you can never have too much posse.

The locals told me about some small roads to take on the way to Mesa Verde. After that I am back tracking to Monument Valley to see more of this awesome beauty.

The place I had entered was Monument Vally. I wish sunset could last forever. The colors are fantastic. This is a rock formation called Mexican Hat.

I’ll be back with more monuments and who knows what else. See ya soon!

Heading East

I am finally on an eastern route. Although I have been making my way in an easternly direction it has been anything but direct.

Remember I mentioned the Mormon’s who founded Bluff City. This is the only existing cabin left from a large group.

As I was riding along a reccommended road I saw a sign which said Canyons of the Ancients. It didn’t look like much but I decided to explore a bit. I just started hiking. And look what I found!

Apparently there are ruins and petroglyphs throughout these canyons. But I forgot to carry water when I excitedly started wandering into this vast canyon. If you don’t have water bad things can happen.

The following evening I had a special beer in the horses’ honor.

I have always wanted to see Mesa Verde. It’s an entire city of ancient cliff dwellings.

It’s fascinating to see these ruins. I met a guy Dan while taking this photo. He told me of an old man in Utah who sold his property to the Department of the Interior 4 years ago that contains untouched ruins larger than Mesa Verde. If you hear of it opening to the public, let me know!

There are so many unusual and colorful rock formations out here.

I’ve got it made in the shade.

This was my view.

This is the southern part of Canyonland. It has many windy roads weaving between these amazing sites.

That night I camped right along side the Colorado River just outside Moab.

Here’s how it looked in the morning.

Then I went to explore the northern part of Canyonland. My lens needs cleaning. There is dirt behind the outside lens. Life on the road is tough and dirty.

No, it’s not the Grand Canyon. It’s Canyonland.

I then took a road Dan had suggested. It’s the same road where I found the campground I stayed at the night before. The road runs along the Colorado and along the way is Castle Valley.

And then another milestone. 10,000 miles.

10,000 miles without a scratch. Then at 10,015 miles I pulled over to take the following picture and hit some loose gravel. The bike went down.

Fortunately I was able to pull my leg out. The damage was minimal. I just bent my clutch handle and scratched the mirror. But damn that bike is heavy. Of course my bags didn’t help. I couldn’t lift the bike. A guy passed by on a Harley and stopped. He was returning from Sturgis. With his help I got the bike back up. I had flooded the carbs, but after letting the bike sit for a while it started up and I was on my way.

Now I am headed East!

You know I love reflections. Especially when they are of me!

Who Said There’s Nothing To Do In Kansas?

Though I am guilty of having said it myself, I have to disagree with that statement now. In the footsteps of the great Clark Griswald, I tied a dog to the bike, spray painted ‘Honkey Lips’ on the gas tank, and visited The Worlds Largest Ball of Twine in Cawker City, Kansas!

Also in Cawker City there is a guy who collects all kinds of junk and old cars. While I was taking some pictures he pulled up on a bulldozer and asked if I was interested in buying. I was taking a picture of this old Dodge pick up at the time.

Have a look at the emblem on the grill. Dodge was ‘Dodge Brothers‘ and they used a star of David on a globe as their symbol.

Here in Hollenberg Kansas, you can find one of the original stops for the Pony Express. Between 1860 and 1861, Pony Expess riders would stop at such places to change horses. Then every three stops they would change riders. The telegraph came around in 1862 putting the Pony Express out of business.

As if that wasn’t enough, I found the geographic center of the United States in Lebenon, Kansas.

At 2am I was awakened by the sound of thunder. I got up to take a picture.

Ain’t it funny how the night moves.

Well Folks! The cross country adventure has come to an end. It hurts to write that. From Kansas I flew across Missouri. I stopped briefly to check out a few sights.
I stopped at the Locust Creek Covered Bridge. I wasn’t expecting a 2 1/2 mile gravel road to get there, but I had to ‘get back on the horse’ after that drop in Utah.

Coast to Coast – Mission Accomplished!

As I rode across Route 36 about to pass into Illinois I had to make another stop. My friend Marc and I passed through here 9 years ago on mad cross country trip. At that time we went out of our way to see it. Hannibal, Missouri. Boyhood home of Mark Twain.

I flew across Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia. I was ready for some rest and the company of friends.
I stopped by my Dad’s place in Maryland.

Stopped by my friend Brian’s place. His was the first street bike I ever rode. Sorry Dobro, I had to move north. Ran out of time.

Then I headed North to New Jersey. Worst ride of the trip. And the worst part of New Jersey was Delaware. It took over 2 hours to get through Delaware. I wanted to stop in Margate to see my friend Bob, but traffic held me up and I went straight to the friendly faces of Belmar.

It’s party time!

That night we went to an awsome show at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park! It was Todd Rundgren and friends doing Sgt.Pepper. Great Show!

Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. The Album cover had many people on it. Do you know who they are? Click Here.

Jersey had it’s share of wildlife.

Then it was back to New York City!
Over 10,000 miles of fun and adventure had come to an end.
I hope you have enjoyed the show!
It’s time for new adventures.

Coast to Coast

Mission Accomplished.